Valve device



Sept. 6, 1932. o. w. THOMPSON VALVE DEVICE Filed June 18, 1928 M6 aw Orv; Z 165 ([[Tfiampaan Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT o FIcE' ORVILLE W. THOMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO JAS. P. MARSH CORPORATION, OF ILLINOIS onrcseo, ILLINOIS, A oonronArIoN or VALVE DEVICE Application filed June 18,

' valve for controlling the flow of steam into a radiator of a steam heating system or the like.

Still another particular object of the invention is to control the flow of heating fluid in a heating system'in such manner that the rate of flow thereof is controlled automatically by the temperature thereof and by the difference between atmospheric pressure and the pressure of the fluid.

One form of the invention is embodied in a,

thermostatic trap adapted'for use in connection with steam radiators and comprising a housing through which the flow of fluid is controlled by a valve carried by a thermostatic element, the thermostatic element being carried by an adjustably mounted diaphragm which brings the thermostatic element into positions determined by the difference in pressures obtaining in the atmosphere and in the radiator.

Another form of the inventionis embodied in a thermostatically controlled valve device which is substantially identical in construction to the trapdescribed above and is adapted to control the flow of fluid into a radiator, the valve device being adjusted to perform this function properly.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown anddescribed,

1928. Serial No. 286,446. g j and more particularly pointed out in the claims. In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a steam heating system which comprises Valve devices embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a central section taken through one of my improved valve devices adapted to be employed as a thermostatic trap. I

Referring for the present toFigs. 1 and 2 and more particularly to Fig. 1, in which I have shown my improved valve devices in connection with other elements of a steam heating system, the reference character designates a boiler adapted'to supply steam to a supply main 11 which is connected. through a riser 12 with a radiator 13, the flow of steam from the riser 12 into the radiator 13 being controlled,'in this instance, by a valve device 14: which embodies my invention. At 15 I have shown a return main whereby condensate is returned to the boiler 10, thelireturn main1-5 being preferably operatively connected to apump 18 of any suitable construction whereby a partial vacuum may be produced in the return main 15 or in the entire system if it is so desired. The radiator 13 is operatively connected to thereturn main 15; through my improved thermostatic trap 20 and a riser 21. V

As best shown in Fig. 2 my improved thermostatic trap 20 preferably comprises a hous-' ing 23 which, together witha cap 2 1, forms a chamber 25. Apertured bosses 27 and 28 projecting from the housing 23 provide means whereby the'chamber'25 may communicate with the radiator l3 and the riser 21, respectively. The flow of fluid from the radi ator13 through the chamber into the riserv 21 is controlled by a valve 30 which is preferably rigidly secured to the bottom wall of a thermostatio element or diaphragm 32 which has its upper wall rigidlysecured to a post 33, the.

post 33 being rigidly secured to the bottom wall of a diaphragm 34 which has its topwall rigidly secured to a plug 36. The plug 36 is screw-threaded through the cap 24' and is preferably providedwith a slot 37 which may 3 fiailfliiginthe chamber 25,, it willexpand and 3, portion of the raidi'a-torfand in the chamber I sppndingto the relatively small pressure then; 0 taininginthe chamber it will expand.

be engaged by a screw driver so that the plug may be rotated and brought into a plurality of I adjusted positions to adjust the valve with respect to a valve seat 39 formed upon an apertured plug screw-threaded into the ng Thqdiap gm :2 i Pr er bly filled s onieliquid or substance responsive to changes of temperature so that the phragm will expand when-subjected to a rise intemperature and will contract when the temperature falls. The plug 36 is preferably provided witha bore 42 which extends from the outer end of the plug to apoint within the diaphragm 34 so that substantially atmospheric pressure obtains in the diaphragm 34 at all times. a

The operation of the thermostatic trap 20 is subs a ia ly as. fo w u in th the p ump 18 is not inoperation and the system is operating under a pressure greater than atmospheric pr. es sure, it is obvious that the diaphragm 34 will be compressed an amount determined by the difference between atmospheric pressure and the pressure obtaining in the'chamber 25 and therefore the valve 30 will be spaced from the valve seat 39; However, the thermostatic trap 32 is constructed so'thatiwh'en it'is subjected to steam at a temperature corresponding to the pressure obseatthe valve 30, thus preventing. steam from passing. from the radiator into the return Jnaiiill. owever, when condensate or non ebn d nsible' gases accumulate in the lower 5, the tempieraturejin thechamber is lowered and the diaphragm contracts sufficiently so that thefvalve aoasmmaa and-the condensate and non-condensible gases may pass through the riser 21 into the return mam 15.

Aissoonfasthe'non-condensible gases and condensate have been discharged fronithe cham- 1081 525 into 'the rise rf2l and the thermostatic el m nt 3. s gai Subjected at e temp rature'ofthe steam, it expands and again seats valve 30'. i This sequence of'operations is continued as long as the system isin operation,

Now if it isassume'd that the system; is being operated as. 'a' vacuum system and that less than atmospheric pressure, obtains in the radiator '13 and in the chamber 25, it is readilyniiderstoodjthat the diaphragm 34 willeX-- pandi displace the, valve 30toward the valve stages; Theconstruction of the ther-V mostatic element is such that when. it

subjected; 'tosteam; of; a temperature corresufiicientl'y to S amus valvei30, Howevenif f condensate, or non condensible gases accumu;

latein the chamber 25, the temperature there? ldwers andthe thermostaticilelenieht 0on tracts sufli'c'iently to, permit, the condensate and s'iom'e ofthe non-condensiblel gases to es;

3 rs embeds: 1 .319 s s rs amf tem when bodiment of my invention, the thermostatic element 32 is constructed so that it will open the valve 30 a relatively small amount When condensate accumulates in the chamber 25 and a partial vacuum obtains therein. This permits the condensate to fiowin a thin stream from the chamber 25 into the riser 21 and in less than atmospheric pressure obtains' throughout it, a relatively small exchange of heat between the radiators and the air surroundingthem is desired. However, as pointed out above, when the system is operating under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, the trap 20 Will function in such manner t at non-condensible gases will also escape readily from the radiator together with the condensate. .This result is accomplished by properly adjusting the thermostatic trap, although it is readily understoodthat in some instances, it may be ad-' vantageous to omit the adjustable feature in the trap as it can be designed to take care of any previously ascertained conditions. It is, of course, understood that when the system is operating under a'pressure greater than atmospheric. pressure, the temperature of the steam is much higher than the tem peraturev of the steam circulating in the sysit is operating under a partial vacuum. This fact coupled with the. fact that the diaphragm 34; brings the valve 30 into: adjusted positions corresponding to the diiference between atmospheric pressure and the pressure obtaining 1n the chamber 25, permits the trap or valve device 20 to be constructed to meet any'predetermined conditions. I a

The valve device 141 is substantially identical in construction with the trap 20 but functions. tocontrolthe flow of steaminto the? radiator 13. When the system isoperating under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, its. diaphragm34 will be compressed and the valve 30 will, be spaced a relatively large distance from its seat 39 until the steam in the system heats the thermostatic element 32 sufiiciently to expand it. The mechflow into the radiator. However, when the" system is operating under a partial vacuum, the diaphragm34zofthe valve device 14 will be. expanded: and the valve 30 will remain 1n relatively close proximity to its valve seat.

39 at all times so that only a "relatively small amount of steam will pass into the radiator. As pointed out above, it is advantageous to limit the amount of steam in the radiator when the system is operating under a partial vacuum as only a relatively small exchange of heat is then desired between the radiator and the air surrounding it.

It is to be understood that the trap 20 may be employed without simultaneously employing the valve device 14 as, in some instances, I may prefer to provide the manually operable valve usually provided to control the flow of steam into a radiator.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be madein the same Without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a trap adapted to control the flow of heating medium through a closed heating system, the combination of a valve, and separate devices respectively providing thermostatic means for controlling the operation of the valve and pressure responsive means operable by pressure above and below atmos pheric pressure for controlling the operation of the valve. r

2. A trap comprising a housing adapted to form part of a closed heating system, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said housing, thermostatic means subjected to the temperature of said fluid for controlling said valve, and means independent of said first mentioned means responsive tovariations in pressure above and below atmospheric pressure obtaining in said housing for controlling said valve.

3. A trap adapted to form part of a passage of a closed heating system comprising a housing, a valve in said housing, a thermostatic element for controlling said valve, and a diaphragm operable independently of said element for controlling said valve, said diaphragm being responsive to variations in pressure above and below atmospheric pressure obtaining in said housing.

4:. A trap adapted to form part of a closed heating system comprising a housing, a diaphragm the walls of which are distensible and contractable carried by said housing and responsive to variations in pressure above and below atmospheric pressure in said housing and the supply and return sides of the heating system with which said housing is connected, a thermostatic element disposed in said housing and carried by a wall of said diaphragm, and a valve disposed in said housing and carried by said thermostatic element.

, ing-a housing, a valve for controlling the flow 5. A trap comprising a housing adapted to" form a passage of aclosed system, a 'valve in said housing for controlling the flow of fluid through the housing, a thermostatic element responsive to changes in the-temperature of said fluid' for controlling said valve, and nieansopera'bleindependently of saide'lem'e'nt responsive to variations in the difference bel-f tween atmospheric'p'ressure and the' pressure of 's'aid fluid above and belowatmospheric pressure for controlling said Valve-,-said valve, element'and'means being connected with each other and suspended from said housing.

6; A device'ofthe kind described comprise of fluid through the housing, a thermostatic element responsivetochanges inithe temperature of said fluid for controlling said valve, means responsiveto variationsin the differ-- ence between atmospheric pressure andnthe pressure'of said-fluid for controlling-said va1ve,-and means tor-manually moving said element and second mentioned means'as a unit to-vary 'the operations of saidvalve.

-71 A trap adapted to beuconnected in a closed. system comprising avalve, thermostatic means for. controlling the operation of the valve, an elementindependent of said thermostatic means providing pressure re-- sponsive means operablewby pressure above and below atmospheric pressurefor control-r ling theoperation ofthe valve, and meansfor manually controlling 'theloperation of said valve. I

8. Aitrap adapted :to:form part and con trol flow of a heating medium through a closed-heating system comprising-a housing, a valve in said housing, a thermostatic ele-' ment forcontrolling said valve,:a' diaphragm.

connected to .awall of the .thermostatic element forcontrolling said valve, said diaphragmdbeing' responsive to variations in, pressure-above and below. atmospheric pres.- sure insaid housing, and means for manually eontrollin'gthe operation of saidvalve. 1 10 9. A device of the kinddescribed comprising a housing, a cap forming a closure for said housing, pressure responsivemeans susceptible Ito'oper'ation by pressure above and below A atmospheric pressure supported at one end by said cap in said housing, thermostatic means having an end connected for support to the opposite end of said pressure responsive means, and a valve connected with said thermostatic means at the free end thereof said means, valve and cap providing a unit for association and removal from said housing.

static means having an end connected for 1 .5; valveconnectedwith'said thermostatic-meanssupp oft-to 4 the opposite endv oi said; pressure. responsive means, and a valve connected with; said? thermostatic means at the free end h e fy 11, Atr ap for controlling thecircalation of a fluid through-- a closedheat-ingsystemv comprising a housing, adj ustablje'pressurere sponsive means-having a communication with;

m the-atmosphere and beingsusceptible to oper-- ation by pressure above and below atmose. pheric pressure andsupported atone endinsaid' housing, thermostatic means" having van; end connected for'suppjort to theopp'ositeend.

of said pressure responsive means; and; a

at the free end thereof. Y

12. Atrap' for controlling flOW'Of fi/IIlBdiflIfl? I inajclosed system comprisi ng'ahousjing w diaphragm adjustably carried by said hous--: ing and responsive to v-aria-tion's in'the'difien encebetween atmospheric pressure andaprese' sure above and below atmospheric pressure in said.housing,pa thermostatic element: dis-5 posed in: saidhousing and sup orted fore movement independent of said iaphragim, and a. val-ye: disposed in' said housing. and carried by said thermostatic element.-

[1*3. Atra-pada'pte'd to provide partviof-m closed: system to I control flow of. fluid-through said system comprising a valve" casing: and a; valve seat, said casing being adapted tonp'rm vide part ofa system" containing pressure above and below atmospheric pressure, ther mostatic means and pressure responsive means in said. casing, andaa valve operable by. said means; i

14; In a tr ap for controlling fluidzcirculat-i ingrthrough a: closed system, the combinatiom of a; casing, valve means in. saidcasing; pres; sure responsive means; i said pressure respon-- sive means lbeing operable by pressure above? and-belowl atmospheric pressure unti -tempera tu-re" responsive means in said casing provide ing. means for-varying the relative osition of the valvemeansin accordance wit Tvari-wti'o'ns of: temperature and preureichanges;-

In testimonyv whereof, I have" hereunto;

ignedmy name.

owl-mew 'rilom'som tse se? 

